Packaging apparatus



y 1961 D. c. MORTON ETAL 2,982,078

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwn, K44, zumlmag,

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* 4 MW, z maw/m v 2,982,078 PACKAGING APPARATUS David Charles Morton,Woodley, and Percival James Paclrman, Twyford, England,assignors to TheForgrove -Machinery Company Limited, Leeds, England,

a company of Great Britain 7 Filed June 9, 1959, Ser. No. 819,186 10,Claims. (Cl. 53-390 like having pleats or corrugations in its upstandingwall.

The chocolates forming a layer in a box have different shapes andrequire to be packed in a definite pattern.,

The upstanding corrugated walls of those of the cups which receivenon-circular chocolates have to be deformed to suit to shape of thechocolate. Hitherto the packing of the cups and chocolates into theboxes has been performed manually but by the use of a suitable platenthis operation can be largely mechanised. I The invention provides aplaten, for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paper or thelike a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in a box orlike container, the platen comprising a framework having thereinthroughgoing recesses shaped approximately to the form of the articlesand arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articlesare to be arranged in the layer, each recess serving to receive andretain an individual cup and means beneath the framework for supportingthe bases of the cups contained in the recesses, saidmeans being movablein relation to the framework to a position permitting of downwardtransfer of the cups from the recesses after they have been filled witharticles.-

Preferably the supporting means is a withdrawable slide supported in,the lower part of the framework.

The cups may be retained in the recesses by a fixed keep plate locatedabove the framework and having holes registering with but of smallersize than the re- 2,982,078 Pa ed Ma 961 are constricted by passage intothe recesses and efiective to retain the cups in the recesses byfrictional contact with the walls thereof while nevertheless permittingof upward withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

Finger holes are conveniently provided in the framework adjacent eachrecess to facilitate manual lifting of individual chocolates from theplaten for the addition of a make weight of chocolate or change ofchocolate in the event of the cup assembly being found to be underweightwhen check weighed.

Two alternative forms of platen according. to the invention will now bedescribed in more detail, by way of example, with reference to thedrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the first form of platen.

Fig. 2 is-a side elevation, partly in section, on the line A-A in Fig.1, and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking from the left'hand side of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the second form of platen,

Fig. 5 is a corresponding end elevation,

Fig; 6 is a section on the lineVI-VI in Fig. 4 and I Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of the machine for weighing the chocolates.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the figures.

'Each of the two forms of platen shown in the drawings is adapted toreecive two identical groups of chocolates, each chocolate beingcontained in an individual glassine cup and the two groups of chocolatesbeing destined to constitute individual layers in 'a two layer box.

The platen shown in Figs. 1-3 comprises a framework 10 of syntheticplastic or other suitable material, which is formed in each half withtwelve throughgoing recesses 11 to receive the individual chocolates ofa layer. As will be seen, these recesses, are differently shaped incorrespondence with the shapes and required orientations of thechocolates, and are arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding tothe final disposition of the chocolates in the box. The recesses 11 areseparated by a distance greater than that separating the chocolates inthe box since, after discharge of the chocolate filled cups from theplaten, each group of cups is compacted, both sideways and endwise,before introduction into the box, as described in application Serial No.820,789,

, filed June 16, 1959. A

cesses, the holes in thekeep plate constricting the mouths cups haveexpanded to normal shape after passage 1' through the holes in the keepplate.

It is generally desired, after the cups in' the platen have been filledwith chocolates, to weigh the contents of the platen prior totransferring the chocolates downwardly from the platen into a suitablecarier from which a the chocolates are afterwards, transferred to thebox or carton in which they are finally packed. Whenthe cups areretained in the recesses by a keep plate, the filled chocolates cannotbe displaced upwardly through the keep plate and it is necessary toweigh the filled platen when it is desired to. check the weight oftheoontained chocolates. The platens are liable to pick up pieces ofchocolate as they are passed in succession through'the packaging machineand, as the result, do not maintain a standard weight. Also, it may notalways be convenient to utilise a number of platens all of identicalnominal weight.

In the preferred form of platen according to the invention, therefore,there is no keep plate and the recesses are smaller than the rims of thecups; so that said rims -I' shape to the recesses 11 but of somewhatsmaller size.

Angle section metal strips 17, secured by screws 18 to the ends oftheframework, serve as guides for supporting a sheet metal slide 19having at its end a hook 20 whereby it may be withdrawn when it isdesired to transfer the filled cups downwardly from the recesses in theframework. Buttons 21 on the slide coact with catches 22 on the stripsto limit the outward movement of the slide and the latter coacts withbent portions 23 of the strips to'limit the inward movement of theslide.

The inturned portions 24 of the strips serve as runners providing aminimum friction surface on which the platen may slide. Shoulders 25 onthe framework provide hand grips whereby the platen can readily belifted from a continuously moving conveyoron which it is situated. whileit is loaded with paper cups and chocolates. The side 26 of the platenis flat, so that there is no risk of the hooked end of the slide of anadjoining platen interlocking with it. The platen has formations whichserve to register it accurately on a carrier on the conveyor, theseformations being constituted lay-asymmetrical projections or recesses onthe platen which engage corresponding recesses or projections on thecarrier to ensure correct positioning of the platen.

The platen may be traversed by the conveyor in the direction of thearrow X beneath a cup transfer mechanism of the construction describedin application Serial No. 810,010 filed April 30, 1959, now abandonedwhich deposits cups downwardly through the holes 16 in the keep plateand into the recesses 11 in the framework. This transfer is achieved bysuction members on a head which has downwardly tapering pins whichengage holes 28 in the keep plate, so effecting any minor adjustment ofthe platen in relation to its carrier required to ensure correctregister of the platen with the suction members.

It will be noted that some of the recesses 11 are shaped to receiveround chocolates or, at any rate, chocolates of a shape such that thebases of the cups can be introduced without distortion into therecesses. Some of the chocolates are, however, long and narrow and therecesses to receive these have indentations 29 in their sides. Theseindentations ensure that there will be no side pressure on the base ofthe cup, so that the shape of the cup will be preserved after it hasentered the recess. As already explained, the mouth of the cup will beconstricted as it passes through the hole in the keep plate, but due tothe corrugated walls of the cup, its mouth will afterwards spring openagain so that its periphery will be situated beneath the body of thekeep plate. The base of the cup is centralized by the indentations inthe recess and the fact that there is no distortion of the cup duringits transfer into the platen ensures that its upper edge will click pastthe keep plate and be trapped. The top control of the cup by the keepplate, together with the centralisation, maintains a uniform height ofthe cup during preforming, as later described, and ensures a neatappearance of the cups after package in the box.

If desired the keep plate may be hinged to the platen, or movabletherefrom, so that it may be displaced to a position permitting thefilled cups to be lifted from the platen for the purpose of checkweighing.

After the cups have been introduced into the platen, preforming toolsmay be introduced into those recesses which are to accommodatenon-circular chocolates to preform the cups to the shape of thechocolates to be received.

The platen shown in Figs. 4-7 is of generally similar construction tothat just described, but it has no keep plate, so that the filled cupscan be lifted upwardly from the recesses 11 in the framework for checkweighing as later described. The recesses 11 are shown as circular butthey will, where necessary, be differently shaped as in Figs. 1-3 incorrespondence with the shapes and required orientations of thechocolates.

The base of the platen is constituted by a sheet metal slide 19, havingupturned side edges 30, which are mounted to slide in grooves 31 in theframework and which retain the slide in position. At one end the slidehas an upwardly bent end 20, forming a hook whereby the slide may bewithdrawn when it is desired either to weigh the chocolates or totransfer the filled cups downwardly from the recesses 11. At its otherend the slide is provided with a knife edge 32. Adjacent each recess 11the framework is formed with a pair of finger holes 33, which enable anon-round chocolate to be located easily in the correct orientation inthe recess during manual loading of chocolates into cups already placedin the recesses. The finger holes also enable a chocolate to be easilyremoved from a recess.

In use, the platens are moved in succession past a cup transfermechanism which deposits glassine cups 34 (Fig. 6) downwardly into therecesses 11 as described in British application No. 14936/58. Afterwardschocolates 35 are introduced manually into the cups. Aswill be notedfrom Fig. 6. the recesses 11 are sufficiently deep to ensure that thecups 34 resting on the slide 19 are protected from displacement in therecesses as the result of draught or accidental brushing of the uppersurface of the platen by the sleeve. As the cups are pushed downwardlyinto the recesses their rims are constricted slightly, so providing afriction lock to prevent accidental upward movement of the cups out ofthe recesses.

' After the cups have been introduced into the platen, preforming, toolsdescend into those recesses which are to accommodate non-circularchocolates and preform the cups to the shape of the chocolates to bereceived.

As the result of such preforming, the friction lock between the rims ofthe cups and the recesses is not materially changed.

After the cups have been loaded with chocolates, the cups aretransferred in succession to a weighing machine 36 (Fig. 7). Theweighing machine is mounted on a platform 37 which is guided forvertical'movement in relation to a fixed framework 38 by guides 39. Theplatform 37 has racks 40 at its opposite ends which engage toothedquadrants 41 coupled together by chain and sprocket gearing 42 and oneof which is rotatable by a lever 43.

Upstanding from the weighing machine are a number of rods 44, one foreach recess in the platen and each carrying at its upper end a pad 45.The platen of which the contents are to be weighed is placed, as shown,on the support 38, the platform being then in its down position and thepads 45 being disposed immediately beneath the slide. The slide is thenwithdrawn and the lever 43 actuated to cause the pads 45 to lift theindividual chocolates from the recesses in the platen as shown in Fig.7, so affording an indication of the weight of the chocolates on thedial 47 of the weighing machine.

When the lever 43 is returned to its initial position, the weight of thechocolates is sufiicient to cause the cups to return into the recessesin the platen, and when the slide 19 is moved back to its initialposition the knife edge on its end strips the chocolate filled cups.from the pads 45. This stripping action is facilitated by reason of thecups having a radius between the base and the upstanding wall.Adjustable stops 48 are provided for determining the bottom position ofthe platform 37.

It will be appreciated that, as an alternative to the construction shownin Fig. 7, the weighing machine could be stationary, and arrangementsmade whereby the side supports 38 and platen 10 can be lowered, afterwithdrawal of the slide 19, in relation to the stationary pads 45.

The platen according to the invention has the following advantages:

(1) The loading of chocolates into the cups is a very simple operationsince the cups are maintained open when trapped in the platen.

(2) The orientation of the performed cups is clearly defined. I

(3) The slide constituting the base support enables the recesses in theplaten to be made large enough to compensate for the substantialvariation in size of the chocolates normal in chocolate manufacture.

(4) The accurate location of the recesses opens up the possibility ofautomatic loading of the chocolates into the cups.

(5) The cups are positively controlled and are not disturbed bydraughts, accidental brushing by the hand or when the platen is handledduring the weighing operation.

(6) It is a simple matter to preform the cups.

(7) The platen is easy to handle and hygienic.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

l. A platen, for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paperor the like a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in abox or like container, said platen comprising. a framework havingtherein through-going recesses shaped approximately to the form of thearticles and arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which thearticles are to be arranged in the layer, each recess having a depthexceeding that of the cups and serving to receive an individual cup andretain said cup against accidental upward movement from the recess andat least some of said recesses having different shapes and orientations,and a slide for supporting the bases of the cups contained in therecesses, said slide being mounted for endwise movement in saidframework, from a closed position beneath said recesses to an openposition permitting of downward transfer of the cups from the recessesafter they have beenfilled with articles, and having a flat unindentedupper surface.

2. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the slide is formed with aknife edge at its inner end.

'3. A platen according to claim 2, wherein the slide is formed with ahook at its outer end to facilitate movement thereof to the openposition.

4. A platen according'to claim 1, in which the framework is providedwith stops defining the open position of the slide and preventingfurther movement of said slide beyond said open position.

5. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are smaller thanthe rims of the cups so that said rims are constricted by passage intothe recesses and effective to retain the cups in the recesses byfrictional contact with the walls thereof while nevertheless permittingof upward withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

6. A platen according to claim 1, wherein the framework is provided withfinger holes adjacent the recesses to facilitate manual lifting ofarticles from said recesses.

7. A platen for use in filling into a group of cups of glassine paper orthe like a number of articles which are to constitute a layer in a boxor like container, said platen comprising a framework having thereinthrough-going recesses shaped approximately to the form of the articlesand arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which the articlesare to be arranged in the layer, each recess serving to receive andretain an individual cup, a slide for supporting the bases of the cupscontained in the recesses, said slide being mounted for endwise movementin said framework, from a closed position beneath said recesses to anopen position permitting of downward transfer of the cups from therecesses after they have been filled with articles, and having a flatunindented upper surface, and a keep plate situated above the frameworkfor retaining the cups against upward withdrawal from the recesses, thekeep plate having holes registering with but of smaller size than therecesses, the holes in the keep plate temporarily constricting themouths of the cups as they are introduced into the recesses from above.

8. A platen for use in the packing into a box of chocolate or likedelicate articles each contained in a corrugated conical paper cup,comprising a framework of substantial depth formed with throughgoingrecesses to receive said cups, said recesses being deeper than said cupsand being arranged in a pattern corresponding to that in which thearticles are to be arranged in the box and some at least of saidrecesses being of irregular shape, said recesses retaining said cupsagainst accidental upward displacement therefrom, being shapedapproximately to the form of the articles they are to receive andpermitting of deformation of said cups, after they have been placed insaid recesses, to a shapeconforming with that of the articles to beplaced in said cups, and a slide for supporting the bases of the cupsplaced in said recesses, said slide having a flat unindented uppersurface and being mounted for endwise movement in said framework from aclosed position beneath said recesses to an open position permitting ofdownward transfer from said recesses of said cups and articles containedtherein.

9. A platen according to claim 8, wherein said recesses are smaller thanthe rims of the cups so that said rims are constricted by passage intothe recesses and effective to retain the cups in the recesses byfrictional contact with the Walls thereof while nevertheless permittingof upward Withdrawal of the cups from the recesses.

10. A platen according to claim 8, which includes stop means forpreventing complete withdrawal of said slide from said framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

